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First Nickel Inc. Announces The Appointment of Lyle R. Hepburn and Rob Whittall to its Board of Directors

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Oct. 19, 2006) - First Nickel Inc. (TSX:FNI) ("First Nickel" or the "Corporation") today announced the appointment of Lyle R. Hepburn and Rob Whittall to its Board of Directors.

Lyle R. Hepburn is a Partner in the law firm of Beach, Hepburn LLP. Since co-founding Beach, Hepburn LLP in 1985, Mr. Hepburn's practice has been focused primarily on public mining and mineral exploration companies. Mr. Hepburn is a director of North Atlantic Resources Ltd., Gitennes Exploration Inc. and Fronteer Development Group Inc., mineral exploration companies listed on the TSX, the Corporate Secretary of Aber Diamond Corporation, a diamond mining company listed on the TSX, and the Corporate Secretary of Frontera Copper Corporation, a copper development company listed on the TSX.

Rob Whittall is a chartered accountant and professional engineer with over 20 years experience in the mineral industry including nine years in public accounting with Price Waterhouse. He has worked in senior management positions for a variety of exploration and operating mining companies, including TVX Gold Inc., as Vice President, Finance until January 2003. He is a founder, director and chief financial officer of Goldcrest Resources Ltd., an exploration company with properties in Australia and West Africa. He is also a director and chairman of the audit committee of Andina Minerals Inc., a director of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") and chair of the PDAC's Financial and Taxation Committee as well as its Audit Committee.

First Nickel's President and Chief Executive Officer, William Anderson, stated: "We are very pleased with the return of Lyle Hepburn and the addition of Rob Whittall to our Board of Directors. With their broad business and public company experience, they will strengthen our Board and provide invaluable guidance and advice as we continue our business of exploring and developing nickel properties in Ontario."

First Nickel is a Canadian mining and exploration company. Its current activities are focused on the Sudbury Basin in northern Ontario, the location of the company's producing Lockerby Mine and four of its exploration properties. First Nickel also has two exploration properties in the Timmins region of northern Ontario. First Nickel's shares are traded on the TSX under the symbol FNI.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in such statements, and there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with them. Such forward-looking statements are made as at the date of this news release, and the company assumes no obligation to update or revise them, either publicly or otherwise, to reflect new events, information or circumstances.